The favourable conditions that characterised the China Coast Regatta held for yesterday&#8217;s start of the 355 nautical mile offshore race to the Chinese island province of Hainan, with 15-18 knot north easterly winds, sunny skies and fair visibility.

Race Officer Jimmy Farquar set the start line for a downwind start to allow boats a running start with no windward mark. Free Fire experienced a last minute hitch when she lost one of her mainsail battens, but managed to solve the problem and cross the start line within a minute of the gun.

All boats started clear, although non took advantage of the opportunity to start with their spinnakers up. Once kites were raised Jelik quickly set the pace, building up a commanding lead by the time she passed between the Leeward Islands and Wei Ling Ding.

By the 1800 hrs radio schedule last night, Jelik had pulled 4 miles in front of Free Fire, with Baringo bringing up the rear of the fleet and competitors were enjoying 20 knots of breeze.

At 0600hrs this morning, Jelik was on course to finish the race in 29 hours, weather conditions permitting, which would topple Free Fire's 2 year old record of 29:55:03hrs. Free Fire is on course for a finish time of 30+ hours, while the last boat to finish is expected in Sanya at around 1600hrs on Friday.

The weather is reported to be fine, with boats enjoying 18 knot Easterly winds and 1.5m swell.

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Melbourne, Australia will host the final Rio 2016 Paralympic Games qualification regatta in 2015. With just under one year until the event, the 2015 IFDS Worlds was launched at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne kick starts the journey to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with qualification spots and top ranking points available in the Australian city.

Shawn Bennett (USA) won the Long Beach Stop of the 2015 California Dreamin' Series Sunday in this International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 3 match racing regatta hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club and raced on the Long Beach Sailing Foundation's fleet of Catalina 37s.

After the limits of the southern oceans imposed by the combination of the weather systems and the safety barrier of the Antarctic Exclusion Zone, the Atlantic is opening up for the top trio of the Barcelona World Race.